Marked by Masks and Secrets (Everlasting Possession, #1)

by Maggie Sunseri

She was everything that I was not.

My delicate distraction

I wanted to corrupt her innocence, to stain her with my darkness.

She stared at me like I was an insane person. Which was smart of her. Because I was an insane person.

And now that we’d finally met… gods help her pure, ethereal soul. Because I feared the level of insatiable addiction brewing in my cold, dead heart.

Reality. I’d never been a fan of the notion. Perhaps why I spent so much time escaping to other worlds between the pages of a book.

pretty little forest nymph?”

“Let me protect you,” he said softly. “I can also offer charm, wit, and, dare I say, fun. It’s a spectacular deal for you, truly.”

“Well, Kylo, I’m going to poison the hell out of you with my pretty flowers.” He groaned. “Enough with the dirty talk. I’m trying to be a gentleman, and you’re making it extraordinarily difficult.”

I needed to touch him again. For scientific purposes.

It was perverse, this compulsion to mark and claim her, to spoil and care for her, to shield her from all darkness and violence. When I was the most violent and dark being there was.

One day, I would hold her while she slept. My shadows would coil around her small body and drive away all nightmares. I would be the only monster allowed to haunt her dreams.

“…I don’t mind being unhinged. In fact,”

“I’m really rather fond of my insanity.”

a fiery, suspicious little creature,

Once I earned her trust, I would claim her. Evie had no idea the depths of pleasure that were about to torment her every waking moment.

You’re safe with me. You’re special, Evie.”

I wanted to more than taste her. I wanted to devour her.

I was the antidote to her deepest, most painful wounds and yearnings. I was everything she feared. Everything she despised. Everything she needed to finally feel safe and protected.

He was a poison I couldn’t stop drinking,

“You are my new favorite toy. I fear I won’t be able to stop playing with you once I start.”

“You will come for me,” I said. I closed my hand around her throat with only faint pressure. “You don’t have a choice.”

I would be the monster under her bed for as long as she needed. “I’m going to hold you, and you’re going to fall asleep.” She furrowed her brows, as if the words were spoken in a different language. “Why?” “Because in my arms is the safest place you will ever be.”

I knew the world was a place of hidden meaning, inexplicable magick, and intertwining fates, because I knew Evie was mine the moment I laid eyes on her.

Would I find liberation when that weaponized, tattooed body devoured me whole?

I was no angel.

“Evie, my sweet, pure, harmless little flower petal…”

Her anger was a drug. Everything about Evie was my new favorite addiction.

You are a defiant streak of light in a world ruled by shadow.”

“When the demons in power are allowed to do as they please, unchecked and without consequence, they will only become crueler, greedier, and more soulless and depraved. You are not choosing safety when you choose not to fight. You are choosing the comfort of the danger to which you’ve grown accustomed. This only works in their favor.”

“Sweet girl,” he hummed against my neck, inhaling deeply. “I already know you’re going to be my new favorite taste.”

“Brats get gagged, baby,” Kylo said. “Actions have consequences. Be grateful I’m going easy on you. There are much larger things I could shove into that testy little mouth to pacify you.”

“I want to hear about the other world—the one I can’t see. The world of your mind, the world of your magick.”

“Rot. In. Hell.” “So long as my sweet, docile angel is in my lap where she belongs, I don’t care where my soul goes to rot.” “You’re going to fertilize my flowers.” Kylo laughed.

“You’re ruining me.” Kylo held my gaze with equal intensity. “You’re ruining me too.”

I bent my head toward one of his outstretched arms and sunk my teeth into his rigid muscles. Kylo gripped my hair at the scalp and yanked me back to stare hard into my eyes. His lips curved. “Baby, did you just bite me?” I lifted a shoulder, the corners of my lips tipping up. “Your arms are just so bitable.”

“Hi Evie!” Harmony said. “You look terrified!”